Brave Enough To Try A Crop Top? Remember These 3 Essential Rules

Crop tops are everywhere this summer--on the red carpet at Cannes (love Freida Pinto's version!), all over the runways (see Dolce & Gabbana or Emilio Pucci), and on real girls all over the streets. So, if you're fashion-forward enough to test out this trend, how do you pull it off without looking like an 80s fashion victim?

RULE #1: Hide that bellybutton! Exposing your entire midriff is so passé. The new way to do it reveals just a little sliver of abs and leaves a lot to the imagination. In general, keeping the flesh of flash above your belly button, not below, is a much more tasteful option.

RULE #2: Go girly. There's no need to go super-edgy or all-out urban-inspired when you wear a crop top--in fact, that's a recipe for calling to mind Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes circa 1994. Instead, head in the opposite direction, like Selena Gomez did in Dolce & Gabbana: pink, frilly, and paired with high heels all say polished glam, not hip hop wannabe.__

__RULE #3: Don't be afraid to layer. Haven't been to the gym in a while? Just a modest gal in general? There's no need to show everything--or even anything!--when you wear a crop top. We love the layered look, meaning you can throw one on over a dress (like in this look from Free People), or put a sheer top over one so you can still see through it. Cute, huh?

What do you gals think of our modern crop top rules? Are you temped to try out the trend? Discuss!